Grand Rapids City reviews archaic law

Caroline MacGregorMarch 4, 2014 | WGVU Grand Rapids City Attorney Catherine Mish has been searching old city records and
laws for archaic rules that today make absolutely no sense.

“can enforce”

Grand Rapids
historian, Gordon Olson, who says in the past, if someone has been really annoying
to the point where much public discussion has ensued, lawmakers considered ways to
put constraints on that annoying behavior.

“what happened here”

As far as
being willfully annoying, Attorney Mish called the wording "unconstitutional
in terms of being vague" and "simply unenforceable" and has recommended
to repeal the language.

While the law
on willfully annoying another person may change, related crimes such as
obstructing someone in a public place or assault would remain on the books.
In the past, other annoying behavior that caught the attention of officials included
a particular habit belonging to men.

“doubly annoying"

Other rules
that caught the city’s attention include prohibiting people from riding horses
on a sidewalk, jail time for failing to return a library book and - preaching
in a loud and obnoxious manner.